STAR CAMPUS PLACEMENT : Self-discipline is the key to success

Meet Ananya Naidu, a young, bright student, who completed her post-graduation from a renowned management school and is today placed with a leading firm. In a candid conversation with Corporate Citizen, Ananya took us through her journey from college to the corporate world

Ananya Naidu, who majored in the marketing stream from a leading management college is today placed with the BPO arm of leading IT giant, Infosys, as an Associate Consultant for Value Design with a good package along with other perks and benefits. Here, she takes to us on her first big break–her journey from college to the corporate world.

My campus placement experience

“Today, I am placed with Infosys BPO through my college. The company had initially shortlisted 110 students before its arrival on the campus. Post the pre-placement talk, we were divided into multiple groups for the group discussion round, and mine was the last group to go. We had a very intense discussion. Post the GD, we were asked to wait for the results. When the results were announced, there were only a handful of candidates who were chosen and I was the only one selected from my group,” recalls Ananya.

“Post this round, we had a personal interview with the officials. I was the last one to go. Every interview lasted for 30 minutes or so. Since I was the only fresher on the list who was qualified for this round, I got even more nervous and started panicking. However, I decided to calm down and went for it,” she adds.

“I was asked a lot of theoretical questions from different subjects such as Economics, Social Media Analytics and Brand Management. The panel seemed to appreciate my internship work which was with Zee–Living Foodz, at a time when it was going through a structural and digital change. I was also asked about my internship work, mechanics of social media and how it can be leveraged to enhance a brand,” Ananya further added.

“The interview lasted for almost 45 minutes. In the end, I was also shortlisted with three other candidates, for a final round of interview with the Heads of the organisation. This interview was more of a basic interaction where the person on the other end enquired about constraints, if I had any. After about an hour of my interview, I was notified that I was the only one selected from the college. It was thrilled. It was an overwhelming moment for me,” said a happy Ananya.

Looking back - Life at the campus

Reminisces Ananya, “The time spent on the campus was one of the most memorable times. I have been an average student, all throughout, with multiple backlogs as any ‘average’ student in my college always had. My directors and faculties have always encouraged me and involved me in various academic pursuits.”

Ananya was part of the 'Corporate Relations Team (CRT),' at college, which garnered a very symbiotic environment. “It is here where my networking with various corporate honchos and corporate houses as well as with my fellow teammates drastically grew. On contrary to the popular belief due to the CRT’s schedule, I made many acquaintances and a few very dear friends who were always my support system. The schedule at college was undoubtedly hectic but I would say, this has prepared me to face the challenges in my current job where self-discipline is the key to growth and work-life balance.”

Take your internship seriously. It is very important for students to perform and learn as much as they can during this period. This is the time where you step out of your comfort zone, learn and grasp as much as you can

Education and family background

Ananya hails from Bhilai (Chattisgarh) from where she pursued her education till the 12th standard. Post this, she moved to Kochi in Kerala to pursue her Bachelors in the Commerce Stream, specialising in Marketing & Entrepreneurship from the Amrita School of Arts Sciences (ASAS). This is where her interest for the Marketing subject grew and she decided to further pursue her post-graduation in IT & Marketing.

Ananya’s father is employed with SAIL Ltd and her mother is a senior lecturer in a convent school. “My parents have always encouraged me to compete with myself and be better with each passing moment. I’ve been brought up in a very non-orthodox environment which has made me very unconventional in my thinking and bold enough to challenge anything that isn’t backed by any kind of logic,” says Ananya.

Hobbies

Ananya is a complete foodie and an Instagram junkie who loves to travel and read while sipping on a cup of tea or coffee. “I am quite an outdoor person when it is sunny and love to whip up a filling meal when it is pouring like cats and dogs. I love to have conversations that would keep me engrossed even till late at night and also go clubbing or on bike rides with friends on weekends.”

Piece of advice to the juniors

Notes Ananya, “It is very important that students perform and learn as much as they can during their internships. This is the period to stretch out limits and come out of the comfort zone and know your subject in and out. Reading magnifies the process of thought creation and reception of information in lectures.”

She adds, “I would always suggest that my juniors work hard during those two months of internship than wasting time holidaying or vacationing. I also believe that for the time that they are in college, they must use their network within and outside the campus which would help in opening greater avenues later in life.”

Thoughts on the education sector in India

“I am still short of experience to comment on the Indian Education system, but I think times have changed and the current system needs a lot of work towards specialised learning and expertise, rather than creating jacks of all trades and masters of none,” she sums up.

By Mahalakshmi Hariharan